Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village
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Is Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village worth booking?
Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village is a 5-hour experience in Aswan, Egypt, from $85 per person. It scores 45 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 45 / 100
- Rating
- Not yet rated
- Duration
- 5 hours
- From
- $85 per person
Visit the temple of Isis on Philae; It was one of the last outposts of Egyptian religion, surviving two centuries after the Roman Empire converted to Christianity. Experience the different part of Egypt and visit the N
What you get
About this experience
Visit the temple of Isis on Philae; It was one of the last outposts of Egyptian religion, surviving two centuries after the Roman Empire converted to Christianity. Experience the different part of Egypt and visit the Nubian village where traditions and lifestyle of the Nubian still exist. Cruising the Nile aboard a traditional felucca's sail boat. You will spend about one hour with a Nubian family to share tea with the locals and wonder their way of life that has not changed since the time of the pharaohs.
What's included
Included
- welcome drink in one of the Nubian houses.
- All transfers/pickup service from your Hotel/ Nile cruise and return by A/C vehicle.
- Motorboat to the Nubian village.
- All taxes and service charges
- An expert and professional tour guide
Not included
- Any Extras not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Tipping (not mandatory but recommended).
What you'll see and do
Temple of Philae
The original island is now completely submerged under the waters of Lake Nasser. But in a spectacular rescue operation, the great temples and monuments of Philae were pulled out of the water and re-erected on a nearby island, now renamed Philae. The earliest building on the island of Philae was a small temple to Isis built in about 370 BC by Napktnebef Kheperkare (Nectanebo I). This was later expanded into a great Temple of Isis by a number of rulers, most notably Ptolemy II Philadelphius (285-246 BC) and Diocletian (284-305 AD). What to See at Philae (1) The Great Temple of Isis: Outer Court, which dates from the end of the Ptolemaic period or the reign of Augustus The first pylon is 150ft (45.5m) wide and 60ft (18m) high. It consists of two towers and a central doorway, which was decorated with reliefs by Nectanebo. The east colonnade is unfinished, with only 6 of 16 columns completed. The others are roughly hewn with unfinished capitals. The west colonnade is 305ft (93m) long and has 31 (originally 32) plant columns 17ft (5.10m) high, with capitals in a variety of forms. The second pylon is 105ft (32m) wide and 40ft (12m) high and covered in reliefs. Those on the central doorway are by Euergetes II. The vestibule of the Temple of Isis has eight columns and was originally separated from the court by screens between the columns on the front. The vestibule and court were later transformed into a Christian church: Coptic crosses are incised in the walls and a Greek inscription states that "this good work" was done in the time of Bishop Theodore (during the reign of Justinian). Above the door is an inscription commemorating the archeological expedition sent to Philae in 1841 by Pope Gregory XVI. The striking Hypostyle Hall conisists of ten huge pillars. Once beautifully painted, the pillars symbolize the first plants, trees and flowers of the earth which began to grow on the Primeval Mound (symbolized by the temple floor). On the ceiling (representing the sky), are images of the Day Boat and the Night Boat, and of the vultures of Upper and Lower Egypt. (2) The Birth House (Mammisi). This was dedicated to Hathor-Isis in honor of the birth of her son Horus and was where the king conducted rituals securing his legitimate decendency from Horus. (3) The small Temple of Hathor, built by Philometor and Euergetes II in honor of Hathor-Aphrodite. The vestibule and the sanctuary (now destroyed) were later added by Augustus. (4) The Kiosk of Trajan. It dates from the Roman Imperial period, but was left unfinished: the capitals of the plant columns were intended to be surmounted by sistrum capitals.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Nubian Village
The famous colorful Nubian village is about 3 miles south of Aswan, Egypt on the west bank of the Nile River. We will get to the Nubian Village from Aswan in 25-minutes by a motor boat ride down the Nile River. This little village is a preserved isle of one of the oldest civilizations in history. Nubian tribes have not only conserved their ancient traditions but also the Nubian language – which is only spoken and has no official alphabet. What to do at the Nubian Village: (1) Admire the Colors One of the best things to do in the Nubian Village is just wander around, explore, and admire all the beautifully painted rainbow buildings Spend a few moments wandering and peek the graffiti plastered on all the homes and buildings. (2) See the Pet Alligators! As crazy as it sounds, many of the Nubian people have real, live alligators as pets in their home! One of the main tourist attractions in Nubia is the alligator house. You will recognize it from all the alligators painted on it! They will gladly show you their pet alligators if you ask. If you go inside to see the alligators, be prepared to tip before you leave. (3) Buy Spices Nubia is famous for their spices. All of the shops in Nubia are selling spices. If you’re looking for a unique souvenir that someone will actually use, consider bringing back some authentic Nubian spices. The busy market sells everything from spices, locally roasted nuts, souvenirs, trinkets, Nubian dolls and attires.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 14 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Blue Tours
Know before you go
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
Good to know
- Duration
- 5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 0
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 45
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Aswan.
How much does Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village cost?
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Prices start at $85 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Aswan usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village take?
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Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Aswan is not rushed.
Is Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 45 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (0/5 across 0 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Aswan, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village?
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Around 0 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Aswan can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Aswan and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Philae temple & Motorboat Tour to Nubian Village start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Aswan within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Aswan?
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On Outty we rank every Aswan experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include 4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor&Abu Simbel+Balloon, 4-Day 3-Night Nile Cruise from Aswan to Luxor - Private Tour, 3 or 2 or 1 Nights Mighty Nile Felucca Adventure. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Aswan?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Aswan?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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